Exp No:

Date:xx/xx/2015
DETERMINATION OF ACIDITY AND ALKALINITY
Aim:
To determine the acidity and alkalinity of the given sample.
Theory:
Ions are present in the sample as a result of dissociation or hydrolysis of solutes. Hydrogen ions present in the
sample react with the standard alkali added and hydroxyl ions present in the sample react with standard acid.
Thus, acidity and alkalinity depends on the end point pH at indicator used.
Reagents Required
1)      Std. NaOH titrant: Prepare 0.1N NaOH solution, standardise the solution by titrating it with 40ml of
potassium hydrogen phthalate using 50ml burette.
2)      CO2 free water: Prepare all stock and standardized solutions and dilution water with distilled or de-ionised
water that has been freshly boiled for 15mins and cooled at room temperature. Final pH of water should be
greater than or equal to 6.0 and its conductivity should be less than 2 micromoles per cm.
3)      Potassium Hydrogen Phthalate: 150-200g of potassium hydrogen phthalate is crushed to 100 Mesh and
dried at 1200˚C for 2 hours. It is cooled in a desiccators. After cooling weigh 100.5g. Transfer it to a 1L
volumetric flask and make it up to 1L.
4)      Standard NaOH (0.02N) : Weigh out 800mg of NaOH pellets using weighing machine and dissolve it in
distilled water and make up to 1L.
5)      Methyl orange indicator solution: Dissolve 50mg of methyl orange in distilled water and dilute it to
100ml.
6)      Phenolphthalein solution: 500mg of phenolphthalein is dissolved in 50ml of ethyl or isopropyl alcohol. To
this, add 50ml distilled water. Add NaOH solution drop-wise until a faint pink colour appears.

7) Na2CO3 (1N): Weigh accurately 13.25 grams of anhydrous Na 2CO3 (previously dried at 140 0C for 2 hours).
Dissolve it in little distilled water and make up to 250 ml in a volumetric flask.
8) H2SO4 (1N) : Add 2.8 ml of H2SO4 in a measuring jar and make up to 100ml with CO 2 free distilled water.
Standardize it against 1N Na2CO3 solution using methyl orange as indicator.
9) Mixed indicator solution: Dissolve 20 mg of methyl red and 100 mg bromo cresol green in 100 ml of 95%
ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol (if Na salt is used, prepare the solution with distilled water instead of alcohol)
Observations:
Mineral Acidity

Volume of sample (ml) Burette reading (volume of NaOH)ml

Sample 1 25
Sample 1 25

Total Acidity

Volume of sample (ml) Burette reading (volume of NaOH)ml

Sample 1 25
Sample 1 25

Phenolphthalein alkalinity

Volume of sample (ml) Burette reading (ml; Volume of

H2SO4)
Sample 2 25
Sample 2 25

Total alkalinity

Volume of sample (ml) Burette reading (ml; Volume of

H2SO4)
Sample 2 25
Sample 2 25
Procedure:
Determination of Acidity:
1) Mineral Acidity: 25 ml of sample is measured in a measuring jar and taken in a conical flask (250ml). The
sample is de-chlorinated using 0.1N Sodium Thiosulphate of very little amount. Add 4-5 drops of methyl
orange titrate it with 0.1N NaOH. The end point is the appearance of faint orange colour. The value is noted for
mineral acidity.
2) Total Acidity: 25ml of sample is taken in a conical flask (250ml). Add 4 drops of Phenolphthalein and titrate
against 0.1N NaOH solution. The end point is the appearance of a faint pink colour.
Determination of Alkalinity:
1) Phenolphthalein Alkalinity: 25ml of the sample is taken in a conical flask (250ml). Add 6 drops of
Phenolphthalein. If pink colour is not appearing, the sample has no Phenolphthalein alkalinity. If appears, titrate
it with 1N H2SO4 solution until the pink colour disappears.
2) Total Alkalinity: 25ml of sample is taken in a conical flask and 4 drops of mixed indicator is added. Then
titrate it against 1N H2SO4solution. The end point is the colour change from emerald green to pink.

Results:
Acidity:
Mineral acidity = mg/L
Total acidity = mg/L
Alkalinity:
Phenolphthalein alkalinity = mg/L
Total alkalinity = mg/L

Inferences:
Calculations:

Acidity in mg/L expressed as CaCO3=

Alkalinity in mg/L =

Acidity :
Mineral acidity of sample = = mg/L
Phenolphthalein acidity of sample = = mg/L
Alkalinity:
Phenolphthalein alkalinity of sample = = mg/L
Total alkalinity of sample = = mg/L